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Save money with the best free movie apps for iPhone and Android

Simon Chandler
Paula Beaton
By and

Watching movies on your computer or smart TV is great — but what about when you want to watch on your smartphone? While it might seem unbelievable that you can simply download an app onto your phone or tablet and start watching films for free, there are a number of apps that let you do just that. It’s easy to find free movie apps for your Android phone or iPhone, but not all are reliable.

But worry not — we’ve handpicked some of the best free movie apps for Android and iOS. We’ll take a look at their main features and what you can do with them to help you decide which ones to download. The only question now is, which movie are you going to watch next?

Plex

Plex app showing movies.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Plex is an oldie but a goodie in the free streaming world, with iOS and Android apps as well as a desktop site. You can stream over 200 live TV channels, plus a huge range of great movies for free, from every genre. There’s usually a good mix of the latest releases alongside older, classic movies from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. You can watch from any device, set up watch parties with friends, and create a wishlist for content you’d like to watch later. Unfortunately, there are ads, but that’s a small price to pay for the selection of streaming movies and shows on offer.

Android iOS

Related

Amazon Freevee

Formerly IMDb TV, Amazon Freevee is now available for Android and iOS. The free app lets you watch thousands of popular shows and movies, as well as live TV channels. There are also Freevee Originals, with some interesting shows worth diving into, and Freevee Features. There are ads, but they’re brief and don’t really interrupt the viewing experience too much. The app has a good mix of recent releases and older movies and shows, and you can cast to your smart TV, although the functionality doesn’t always work.

Android iOS

Popcornflix

Popcornflix app watch options.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Popcornflix is a free movie app offering both popular movies and TV shows as well as original content called Popcornflix Originals. The app lets you sort movies by categories, offering a seamless browsing and watching experience. You can also see the staff picks and trending content on the homepage if you’re confused about what to watch. The app is available on Android and iOS but you can also watch the content on the web.

Android iOS

Redbox

Redbox app free movie options.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Redbox lets you stream free on-demand movies. The content is ad-supported so you’ll have to bear with a few interruptions, but you get to watch great stuff for no cost, so it might be worth it. The best part is that you don’t even have to sign in to start watching movies, making it a great option for casual watchers. The app also shows you which movies are leaving the platform so you can watch them before they’re gone. The app is available for Android and iOS but you can also use it with Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast.

Android iOS

Pluto TV

You can dive into thousands of movies on Pluto TV, from cult classics and Hollywood blockbusters to rom-coms, horror flicks, and family favorites. Along with movies in English, you’ll also find a wide selection of TV shows and movies in Spanish. There are full seasons of all your favorite shows alongside the on-demand movie library, and you can even watch live streaming TV shows and movies, live news, and sports, too. Pluto TV is completely free, and the app is updated regularly, so you’ll always find something new to watch.

Android iOS

Tubi

Tubi app screenshots.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Tubi is an ad-based free app for Android and iOS that lets you watch TV and movies. It offers a wide selection of films and programs, from newly released movies to anime, Korean dramas, and British series. It also adds new movies and shows to its selection each Friday, though it has fewer recent films than some viewers would like. One welcome feature is that Tubi lets you transmit your screen to a television using either Chromecast or AirPlay, so you don’t have to spend all your time staring at a touchscreen. Other nice touches include the ability to sync your Tubi account with multiple devices such as Apple TV, Xbox, and Roku, and the ability to pick up movies and shows from where you last watched them. You can also manage your own personal queue of videos to watch — and you can see when a title is leaving the app so you don’t miss out. You can now access new Live Sports channels from the Live TV Tab.

Android iOS

Vudu

Vudu for Android and iOS.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Vudu is an excellent free app that lets you stream thousands of films and an extensive selection of TV shows using your smartphone and other devices. Vudu’s interface is clear and easy to navigate. Shows and movies are organized according to category, so all you have to do is browse, tap on a title, and watch. One standout feature that distinguishes Vudu from the competition is that it lets you download content to your device so you can watch offline — or you can use AirPlay to cast to your TV if you don’t want to watch on your phone. You also get the Spatial Audio feature, which lets you experience TV and movies in surround sound using your AirPods Pro, and the Picture in Picture feature, which lets you multitask on your phone while watching a show or a movie. iOS users can also use the Continue Watching widget to access their most recently watched titles. While Vudu is free and offers a broad range of free content, it also offers movies that you need to pay to watch. It also has ads, although these are fewer than with some other apps. Recent updates now include chat support within the app.

Android iOS

Crackle

Crackle is a well-known free movie app, offering a strong selection of free movies in genres like comedy, drama, action, and thriller. And like most good free movie apps, it also lets you watch TV shows, both new and old. One of Crackle’s unique features is its Spotlight Channel, which features shows and movies recommended by the Crackle team. This is a great way to discover content you haven’t heard of or given a chance before, while the Watch Later function means you can save a list of things you’d like to check out whenever you get the chance. Like most free movie apps, Crackle displays ads. However, if you sign up for an account, you can make them less frequent, resulting in a more streamlined experience.

Android iOS

Viki

Viki targets fans of Asian TV and cinema and features programs from Korea, Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand. The app has an impressive library, featuring a range of Asian TV dramas, movies, lifestyle shows, and variety television. It’s okay if you can’t speak or understand the language because the app supports subtitles in over 200 languages. One of our favorite Viki features is its watch-party function. You can chat with other viewers while watching movies or shows. This feature makes Viki feel more like a community than most other free movie apps. Viki is free, but you need to sign up to access the content via email, Google, Facebook, or Rakuten. The paid subscription service lets you skip the ads and get early access to original and exclusive content. That upgrade starts at $5 per month, although a seven-day free trial is available.

Android iOS

Filmrise

Filmrise free movie app for iOS and Android.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

You don’t even need to create an account to enjoy hundreds of TV shows and movies totally free on Filmrise. Just download the app and you can watch HD-quality movies across a huge range of genres including horror, romance, comedy, and thriller. There’s also a wide choice of TV shows, although you might not be able to find the latest releases. We love that all the movies and TV shows have a rating and popularity score, helping you decide what to watch — and the Recently Played list makes it easy to resume watching where you left off. The app’s editors create new playlists every week, so you’ll always discover something new to watch.

Android iOS

Sling TV

Sling TV app screenshots.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sling TV is one of the best free movie apps for smartphones. It’s also one of the best free TV apps since it lets you watch a range of programming, from sports and news to comedy programs and kids’ shows. You can use this app to stream live television from more than 200 channels. These include ESPN, TNT, CNN, HGTV, the History Channel, and many others. Sling TV also offers more than 85,000 on-demand movies and shows, as well as a range of programming for the kiddies, from such networks as Disney Channel and Cartoon Network. You can also view free local channels in your Sling guide via Locast. As with any good TV app, Sling TV lets you personalize your content and channels on the app, enabling you to save your favorite channels and shows.

Android iOS

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Simon Chandler
Simon Chandler
Mobile Writer

Simon Chandler is a journalist based in London, UK. He covers technology and finance, contributing to such titles as Digital Trends, Forbes, Business Insider, InsideBitcoins, Cryptonews.com, and CryptoVantage. He has also contributed to Wired, TechCrunch, TechRadar, the Daily Dot, the Verge, Cointelegraph, CCN.com, the New Internationalist, Bandcamp, the Sun, and numerous others.

He specializes in mobile technology for Digital Trends, covering smartphones, tablets, wearables, and games. Beyond consumer gadgets, his main interest is in how tech is changing the way we live and who we are, for better and for worse.

Paula Beaton
Paula Beaton

Freelance tech and travel writer living in (somewhat) sunny Scotland. Gamer, tea addict, never without a good book.

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